HOMEPAGE

'The European Youth Forum works to empower young people to participate actively in the shaping of Europe and the societies in which they live, and in improving the living conditions of young people as European citizens in today’s world.

The European Youth Forum defends the interests of all young people in Europe. As a platform, it is the representative body of its member organisations towards institutions and partners active in the youth field.'

(Mission Statement adopted in 2000)

Let's make EU policies more youthful

Launch of written declaration on 22 April, Strasbourg -Phone interviews can also be arranged-

On the initiative of the European Youth Forum (YFJ), a written declaration calling on the EU to devote more attention to youth empowerment in EU policies will be launched on 22 April in Strasbourg, sponsored by five Members of the European Parliament. (read more)

Conclusions from Slovenian EU Presidency's Youth Event

Under the theme “ Promoting the Participation of Young People with Fewer Opportunities in Society ”, the Slovenian Presidency of the EU held on 18-21 April in Brdo a Youth Event which gathered over 150 young people from 38 European countries.

The participants discussed ways to achieve the active participation of young people with fewer opportunities in decision-making processes, debates and in the society.

Please click here to read the conclusions, which were presented to the Directors-General for Youth from EU-27.

The Finnish Foreign Policy Youth Forum started with style by meeting UK Foreign Secretary David Milliband

The Finnish Foreign Policy Youth Forum was established at Finnish Foreign Minister Kanerva's initiative in February. A public recruitment process coordinated by the Finnish Youth Co-operation – Allianssi was then held; 28 young people aged 16-28 were selected out of 420 candidates. (Read more)

Campaign on Youth Empowerment in EU policies kicks off

On the initiative of the European Youth Forum (YFJ), five Members of the European Parliament are launching a written declaration calling on the EU to devote more attention to youth empowerment in EU policies.

This spring, the YFJ is seeking to mobilise support for this campaign from youth organisations, young people and anyone taking young people's needs seriously, in order to encourage at least half of the Members of the European Parliament to sign.  

Click here to visit the campaign website.

Seminar on Sustainable Development

Ahead of the 16th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, to be held on 5-16 May in New York,   the Council for International Youth Relations of the French-speaking Community of Belgium (CJEF/CRIJ), in cooperation with the European Youth Forum, organised a training seminar from  28-30 March in Brussels  for the 25 European young delegates attending the session. (read more)

Youth Organisations Welcome EP Report on Volunteering

The European Youth Forum welcomes the initiative of Marian Harkin MEP ( Ireland, ALDE) with her report on 'The Role of Volunteering in Contributing to Economic and Social cohesion'. This report tackles the main issues faced by volunteers and volunteering organisations.

(Read More)

YFJ Youth Work Development working group

The YFJ Youth Work Development working group is holding its third meeting on 15-16 March in Brussels. The working group will focus on cross-pillar cooperation and the analysis of needs and challenges experienced by the countries in the YFJ priority regions. The participants will also discuss the implementation of the database of best practices in youth work and will assess the recent developments in the field and related processes.

YFJ priorities at the 46th session of the UN Commission for Social Development

On the occasion of the 46th session of the UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD), held on 6-15 February in New York, the European Youth Forum reminded the international community and the UN in particular about their commitments to ensure full and decent work for all young people.

Click here to see the YFJ priorities.

Click here to see the YFJ/WOSM final speech.

Click here to see the newsletter 'Young News'.

UN Youth Resolution Tool-Kit

At the last General Assembly, the United Nations adopted a Resolution on Youth. The European Youth Forum, the Youth Delegates to the UN GA and other organisations with ECOSOC status at the UN which are partner of the YFJ in the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations (ICMYO) were very active in advocating Member States and recognise the work of Youth Organisations in the text.

Now the final text is available and the European Youth Forum Produced this Tool Kit to help Youth Organisations and National Youth Councils to use the text of the Resolution for their advocacy work at national and international level.

YFJ Council of Europe Affairs Commission meeting

The YFJ Council of Europe Affairs Commission (COEACOM) is meeting this week end in Brussels, Belgium.  The COEACOM will work on the documents to be presented at the 2008 Conference of European Ministers Responsible for Youth, which is taking place in October in Ukraine; their aim is to delineate the long term strategy for youth policy in Europe. The COEACOM will have the opportunity to discus with Hans Joachim Schild, Manager of the Partnership on Youth between the Council of Europe and the EU (Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe) about the future activities of the Directorate of Youth and Sport. The Commission will as well  provide input to the YFJ policy and opinion papers to be presented to the Council of Members in May and will look into possibilities to increase the funds of the European Youth Foundation.

YFJ EU Affairs Commission meeting

The YFJ European Union Affairs Commission (EUACOM) is holding its next meeting on 29 February - 2 March in Rome, Italy.  Among issues of the agenda for the meeting, the EUACOM will work on preparation of the YFJ Youth Empowerment Campaign, to be launched on 9 April in the European Parliament; this campaign is being run in support of a written declaration on youth empowerment. The EUACOM will also discuss the YFJ campaign and manifesto ahead of the European Parliament elections in 2009, and provide input to the YFJ policy and opinion papers to be presented to the Council of Members in May.

YFJ in the South East Europe region: Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the framework of its country-by-country approach to the South East Europe (SEE) region, the European Youth Forum (YFJ) conducted a study visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 26-29 September 2007.

The visit was aimed at mapping the country-specific situation of young people, refresh existing contacts and establish new ones, learn, and to provide an introduction to the status and development of youth policy and youth work development and the needs and problems of youth NGOs in the country.

Click here to read the report.

YFJ and the Council of Europe hold their annual coordination meeting

In the framework of its cooperation with the Council of Europe, the European Youth Forum hold  its annual coordination meeting with the institution on 18-20 February in Strasbourg. Common issues and plans for cooperation in the current year were discussed with the Directorate of Youth and Sport, the Education Directorate, representatives of the "Building a Europe for and with Children" project, and with departments covering youth issues in the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe.

For further information, please visit the Council of Europe's Youth website

YFJ welcomes the Youth Employment Network's guide on collaboration for youth employment

On 9 October the international Youth Employment Network (YEN) launched ‘Joining Forces with Young People: A Practical Guide to Collaboration for Youth Employment' , as a side event to the 62 nd Session United Nations General Assembly, in New York (read more)

LiJOT shared best practice with Polish young people

From 30 November to 2 December 2007, the Lithuanian Youth Council (LiJOT) organised a study visit by the Polish Youth Council (PRM) to LiJOT. The main aim of the meeting was to exchange good practice of youth work and enlarge bilateral cooperation.... (read more)

YFJ contribution to the BEPA consultation paper on Europe 's social reality

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) welcomes the Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA) consultation paper on Europe 's social reality, which provides a very deep and thorough analysis of the recent trends and problems observed within European societies. (read more)

Voting at 16

To fulfil the role of young people as active citizens, a fundamental right is missing for many young people: the right to vote in elections.
The European Youth Forum (YFJ) undertook a further step in the promotion of the lowering of the voting age to 16, gathering 25 young representatives of its Member Organisations experienced on such issues or willing to get into the debate, for a seminar on the issue. (read more)

Global unemployment, high concern for youth organisations

The European Youth Forum's Working Unit on Global Affairs and Development Cooperation is meeting on 11-13 January in Grugliasco ( Italy ) to prepare for the UN Commission for Social Development. The meeting is hosted by the municipality of Grugliasco and the Italian Youth Forum (Forum Nazionale dei Giovani).(read more)

Shadow Report on voluntary activities

The Shadow Report on the implementation of the common objectives of voluntary activities in the context of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) can be downloaded here

YFJ contribution to the European Commission consultation on ‘Schools for the 21st Century'

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) has submitted its contribution to the European Commission's consultation on ‘Schools for the 21st Century'. This public consultation is part of the Education and Training 2010, an EC educational process framed within the Lisbon Agenda.(read more)

OMC in the youth field

If you want to know more about the OMC and the Common Objectives, please download it here

Info Day on Funding for INGYOs (2007)

Funding of International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations (INGYOs) is one the prime focuses in the work of the European Youth Forum (YFJ). (read more)

Info Day on Funding for INGYOs (2006)

Funding of International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations (INGYOs) is one the prime focuses in the advocacy work of the European Youth Forum (YFJ)... (read more)

Shadow Report on Information and Participation

of the European Youth Forum on the implementation of the White paper; a key tool in our advocacy work for an efficient and crossectoral youth policy in Europe ... (read more)